Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi does not give out money for political campaigns.

Olayinka recalled that Obi “dropped money” for party delegates in Ekiti State during the 2023 elections.

Featuring on AIT’s Democracy Today, the minister’s spokesman insisted that politics is business.

According to Olayinka: “As a politician or a business man, if your competitor wins what happens to you? If you are seeking a contract from somewhere and your competitor wins, what happens to you? You will lose out.

“Most of us Nigerians, politics is business and service. You can only serve when you get to power.

“You want to serve me, for instance, why do politicians spend money including the US? Don’t politicians spend money on campaigns? They spend money to seek election.

“I contested for the House of Representatives in 2023, in your party primaries, you give people money; so let’s not come on television and start deceiving ourselves and people.

“They said that the candidate of the NDC, Peter Obi does not give ‘shishi,’ it’s a lie. I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was in PDP before going to the Labour Party, he came to Ekiti and dropped money for delegates.”

Abiodun Ogunbayo has been appointed as a member of the Smart City Football Club Technical Committee for the 2026/27 football season, as the Lagos-based club strengthens its technical structure ahead of the new Nigeria National League campaign.

The appointment, which takes immediate effect, places Ogunbayo in an advisory and performance-monitoring role, working alongside the Head Coach and technical crew to support the club’s technical objectives.

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According to the appointment letter signed by the club’s Chief Operating Officer, Betiku Seun, Ogunbayo will be involved in monitoring and evaluating player performances during training sessions and competitive matches.

He will also assess the players’ technical, tactical and physical performances, while providing constructive recommendations to the technical crew.

His responsibilities will further include conducting pre-match and post-match analysis, identifying strengths, weaknesses and areas requiring improvement, as well as supporting player development by identifying individual talents and specific coaching needs.

The committee will also recommend appropriate technical, tactical and developmental interventions where necessary.

Smart City stressed that the Technical Committee will operate strictly in an advisory and performance-monitoring capacity, working collaboratively with the Head Coach and technical crew without undermining their operational authority.

Ogunbayo is expected to bring his knowledge and experience to the assignment as the club continues preparations for the 2026/27 season.

With his background also extending into sports journalism, his knowledge of football communication could potentially prove useful to the club’s media activities. However, his official appointment at this stage is strictly as a member of the Technical Committee, according to the letter.

The appointment represents another step in Smart City’s preparations for the new NNL campaign, with the club looking to strengthen its technical processes, improve player development and raise its competitive standards.

For Ogunbayo, the immediate task is clear: observe, analyse, advise and contribute to the technical growth of Smart City FC throughout the new season.